Russian Premier Vladimir Putin has rejected European demands to relax state control over its domestic energy supplies and enter into collective negotiations with the European economic bloc.
Putin flatly rebuffed calls to sign the Energy Charter Treaty, saying that Russia would set its own terms on energy supplies although he did concede that binding rules on energy trade could be agreed.
The Energy Charter Treaty aims to make it easier for European companies to have the same access to the Russian energy market as Russian companies have to Europe’s market, and ensure that Russia treats all European countries equally.
Putin reportedly commented: “We are not against the principles that are included in the charter, but we believe that certain provisions of the charter should be defined better,” adding: “I am quite confident that we will be in a position to develop common approaches.”